Orange Filaflex is the most elastic filament market, reaching 700% elongation at break. Orange Filaflex filament is a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) based in polyurethane filament and certain additives. Filaflex filament has a high elasticity, a high coefficient of friction and smoother making it a flexible material with excellent properties for 3D printing.

FilaFlex has excellent binding properties with PLA, ABS, HIPS, Nylon and almost any media. This allows the creation of composite parts that combine hard and soft materials in a single print. Besides the Orange FilaFlex filament it is resistant to gasoline, solvents and acetone. FilaFlex is not toxic but is not approved for medical or food use. FilaFlex not release odors, it is completely odorless and does not produce toxic gases.

Furthermore the Orange FilaFlex filament supports most 3D printers on the market. It has been tested in Makerbot Replicator 3D printers 1 and 2, RepRap Prusa i2 - i3, RepRap BCN, BQ Witbox, Sharebot, Ultimaker 1 & 2, PrinterBot, Mendel and Lulzbot Max. In the case of not being compatible with a 3D printer, Recreus has risen plans to adapt the extruder to optimize the thrust of flexible filament. In the case of not being compatible with a 3D printer, Recreus has designed a specific extruder for flexible and elastic materials, the Recreus Extruder V3.

It is very advisable to read the following articlethat will see major challenges confronting the FilaFlex when printing as well as solutions and usage tips. The use of 3D printers with direct drive extruder is recommended (Recreus Extruder V3), but FilaFlex can be used in 3D printers Bowden (indirect drive) at low printing speeds but is not recommended due to the long distance between the hotend and stepper motor. If the Filaflex filament is 2.85 mm it is not so easily occurs the problem of filament unguided in the extruder itself as in the case of FilaFlex of 1.75mm.

When you try to print for the first time the filament FilaFlex is recommended to start with low speeds (25 mm/s) and high temperatures (245 °C). If you don´t have the Recreus extruder or hotend optimized for elastic filaments must use retraction distance 1.5mm, a speed of 30 mm/s, and increase the flow if the filament is intermittent extrusion (between 105-110%). In addition they should reduce the pressure lever arm presses the filament on the motor pulley to prevent the filament choke or jams.

As you gain experience you can increase the speed and lower the temperature in order to achieve high quality prints. You must use the fan layer because it is liquid enough to melt. As for the extrusion height does not affect the adhesion between layers (Ideal between 0.1 and 0.25 mm). Hot or base, or the use of BuildTak, 3DLac, Kapton tape or Blue Tape is not needed, for the Filaflex to adhere to bed.